Shelling again in Poonch

4 May 2002The Daily ExcelsiorExcelsior Correspondent

POONCH: Pakistan army resorted to a fresh round of mortar shelling in Poonch sector this afternoon causing more damage to the civilian property. A civilian with serious splinter injuries, sustained in a mortar explosion, was admitted to the hospital. Reports said the shelling started from Pakistan side at 1600 hours and continued for about two hours. Maximum impact of the shelling was felt in forward village of Bandi Chechian where a civilian Mohd Sharief son of Suba was seriously injured. Sharief was evacuated from the village and shifted to district hospital of Poonch. Several houses were damaged in Bandi Chechian, Jhalas and Salhutri villages. Over a dozen cattle were reported to have perished in mortar shelling in the three villages. Reports of damage were yet to come in from the forward villages as intermittent shelling was going on at some places. Shelling was replied by Indian side effectively. Number of casualties or extent of damage suffered by Pakistan in retaliatory firing by Indian troops couldn’t be ascertained. Pakistan army had been resorting to mortar shelling in Poonch sector, targeting civilian population in addition to Defence installations, for last four consecutive days. On Thursday evening, a woman was killed and three civilians were injured on Indian side in the shelling while more than 20 houses were damaged in Jhalas and Khari Karmara sectors. Same day, four Pakistanis posts were burnt in retaliatory firing by the troops resulting into six to eight casualties of the enemy. Our Jammu correspondent adds: Indo-Pak troops exchanged firing at more than 20 places on the International Border last night. However, no casualties or damage was reported on Indian side in the exchange of firing that was officially described as routine.